Pakistan elderly couple with 4 children hacked to death for honour

In another incident of honour killing, an elderly couple, who had a love marriage 55 years ago, was brutally killed along with four of their children in Pakistan's Punjab province, media said on Wednesday.

Islamabad: In another incident of honour killing, an elderly couple, who had a love marriage 55 years ago, was brutally killed along with four of their children in Pakistan's Punjab province, media said on Wednesday.

The cold blooded murder occurred in Malkana Mor area of Athara Hazari tehsil of Jhang district on the intervening night of Monday and yesterday.

The couple, Ghulam Fatima, a widow and Fazal Razzaq had had married some 55 years ago without the consent of the woman's family and shifted to Jhang, Dawn online reported.

Following the marriage, the couple was blessed with nine children and had been living happily after but the tide of good fortunes turned abruptly when the tragedy struck during the wee hours of yesterday.

Police said a few days back, Fazal, Fatima's son from her first marriage, had come to her house in Jhang district and had been staying there since then.

He, apparently on Monday night, spiked family's meal with some strong tranquiliser drugs and the whole family fell unconscious after partaking dinner.

Fazal, who was then allegedly joined by his five accomplices, axed the couple and their three daughters from 23 to five years of age and an 11-year-old son.

Before fleeing the crime scene, the suspects severely injured couple's five other children.

The incident came to light next morning after neighbours came to the house and informed the police. The victims and injured were taken to a nearby hospital.

In May this year, a 25-year-old woman was stoned to death outside the Lahore High Court by more than two dozen people, including her father and brothers, for marrying against her family's wishes while another young women was stoned to death in Lahore in September by her brother for having an affair.

In September, a man allegedly stoned to death his sister for having an affair with a youth in Punjab province. In another such incident, an enraged husband killed his wife and her alleged paramour in the far flung region of Pakistan's Balochistan province.

Last year, 869 cases of honour killings were reported, according to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. The true figure could be higher since many cases go unreported.

In most cases, the culprits escaped punishment after being pardoned by complainants who happened to be their close relatives.